Evan F. Moore: Black lives matter on any given Sunday

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Aug 25, 2017 at 12:56 PMAug 25, 2017 at 12:56 PM

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Sports fandom is irrational at times.

And is sometimes racist.

And when the race or alleged political beliefs of a player are thrown into the mix, things can go south pretty quickly. These days, athletes and sportswriters who speak out on social justice issues are often told to “stick to sports.”

But when it comes to fantasy football and the billions of dollars generated by NFL players, most of whom are black, the fans are suddenly concerned about the welfare of the players.

And on the weekends and occasional Monday/Thursday night games, black lives do indeed matter.

When someone tries to use a variation of the “stick to sports” phrase as a shut-down, it doesn’t really mean that they want these folks to pipe down per se, they want them to stop because the commentary doesn’t match up with their sensibilities.

There’s a long history of backlash when black athletes speak out on polarizing issues. Read up on the outrage toward Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and, most recently, Michael Bennett and Chris Long for further edification.

And the fans who want keep the players in their place are awfully concerned about their well-being when money is on the line.

Dexter Fowler, a St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, said as much when he tweeted in February about the backlash received when speaking about President Trump’s Muslim ban.

“For the record. I know this is going to sound absolutely crazy, but athletes are humans, and not properties of the team they work for.”

Many sports fans seem to believe that athletes owe them something. Fans often tell outspoken athletes they are “ungrateful” when describing their disappointment with them. That type of rhetoric is something one tells a child when they’ve behaved badly.

The truth of the matter is that these guys don’t exist purely for entertainment. They have families. They have thoughts and feelings on the issues of the day just like anyone else.

And that shouldn’t have any bearing on their fandom. Until things change, America’s use for black lives is relegated to entertainment.

— Evan F. Moore is a syndicated columnist with GateHouse Media. He writes about the intersection of race, violence and culture. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Chicago Tribune and Ebony. Follow him on Twitter @evanfmoore.